Latch



June 11, 1957 J. R. GOMERSALL LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1954 INVENTOR.

June 11, 1957 J. R. GOMERSALL' ,1

LATCH Filed May 5. 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

United States fatent O f LATCH John R. Gomersall, Elgin, 11].,

Company, a corporation assignor to McGraw-Edison of Delaware This invention is concerned generally with a waflie baker or the like, and more specifically with a latch for releasably securing a waffle grid or other cooking plate in place.

Certain types of electrical cooking apparatus are provided with interchangeable grids and flat plates for alternatively baking waffles, or grilling sandwiches, cooking pancakes, and the like. In order to convert the cooking apparatus from one form to the other one set of cooking plates, i. e. the grids or the flat plates, is removed and the other is placed in its stead. The wafiie grids also must be removed from time to time for renewal of the silicone coating thereon to prevent sticking of the waflles to the grids. It is desirable that the grids should be readily removable, but should be firmly held in place except when it is desired to remove them.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved latch for detachably holding cooking plates in a watfle baker or the like.

Itis a further object of this invention to provide a latch for holding which is automatically cammed past a cooperating portion on a cooking plate for snapping into latching engagement therewith when the plate is inserted, and which is movable in the same direction that it is cammed by finger pressure on a push button for unlatching the cooking plate for removal thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a latch in a waffle baker or the like for releasably retaining a cooking plate therein, which latch moves pivotally into latching engagement with a part of a cooking plate, and is moved linearly for release of said cooking plate.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bottom half of a waffle baker constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the baker taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the latch forming the subject matter of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View illustrating the latch and taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5-7 are sequence views taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Fig. 4 and latch with a cooking plate as the cooking plate is installed;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating engagement of the latch with the cooperating cooking plate part;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the latch;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the latch;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view takenalong the line I 11-11 of Fig. 12 showing a fixed retaining member which may be substituted for the latch on one side of the cooking plate; and

illustrating engagement of the I 2,795,182 Patented June 11, 1957 Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 11 showing the substituted fixed latching means.

Referring first to Figs. 14 for a general understanding of the invention, there will be seen the lower half 20 of a waflle baker of more-or-less standard or known construction. The lower half of the waffle baker comprises a sheet metal shell 22 of generally dished out and rectangular configuration, and it will be understood that the top half of the waflle baker is of generally complementary and similar construction. A pair of handles 24 of any suitable heat insulating material, such as molded plastic, is provided on opposite sides of the body shell 22, and four lugs or feet 26 of similar construction are provided on the bottom of the body shell 22 of the lower half 20 of the wafiie baker.

A frame 28 is secured within the body shell 22 by means of turned flanges or ears 30 which are held to the sheet metal of the body shell by suitable fasteners such as rivets or screws 32. The frame 28 preferably extends out the rear of the body shell 22 to form a part of the hinges 34 pivotally connecting the top and bottom halves of the waffle baker as set forth in my copending application S. N. 427,721, filed May 5, 1954 and entitled Waflle Baker.

A reflector 36 of sheet metal comprising a flat, platelike portion 38 and an upturned peripheral wall 40 is mounted on the frame 28 by means of right angularly' disposed cars 42 on the frame which are held tothe plate 38 of the reflector by suitable fasteners such as rivets or screws 44. Suitable insulating members 46, preferably of wall 40 of the reflector 36, and a part thereof extends through the front wall 50 of the casing 22. A similar latch is found on the rear Wall 40 of the reflector, and has a part projecting through the rear wall 52 of the shell or casing 22. The latch, hereinafter identified by the numeral 54, comprises a resilient strip 56 of sheet material, preferably metal, arranged in substantial parallelism of the front wall 40 of the reflector with one end of the strip 56 riveted or otherwise secured to this wall as at 58. A latch pin 60 is secured to the strip 56 generally adjacent the end which is not riveted to the wall 40. The latch pin may be secured to the strip by any suitable means such as a reduced section passing through the strip and peened over as at 62. The latch pin 60 projects through a vertically elongated slot 64 in the front wall 40. The pin lies at the top of the slot for reasons that will be brought out shortly.

A release pin 66 having an enlarged push button head 68 thereon projecting through an opening 70 in the front Wall 50 of the body shell or casing is provided with an enlarged flange or collar-72 preventing movement of the release pin outwardly through the opening 70. The release pin 66 further includes an elongated shank 74 projecting through a suitable aperture 76 in the front wall 40 of the reflector and loosely connected to the free end of the strip 56 by means such as a further reduced portion 78 projecting loosely through an opening in the strip. An enlargement 80 on the end of the reduced section 78 prevents separation of the strip 56 and the release pin 66. V I I A cooking plate indicated illustratively as a waffle grid 82 is provided with a peripheral shoulder 84 resting on top of the edge of the lower body shell or casing 22. A

provided on the under side of the grid 82. The lugs are respectively positioned adjacent the front and back of the grid, and each lug is provided with an aperture 88 extending through it generally along the center line of the grid. The latch pin 60 also is substantially along the center line of the wattle baker for cooperation with the aperture 88 in the front lug, and a latch 54 identical with that previously described also is-provided at the rear of the body shell or casing 22 of the lower half of the wattle baker 20 for cooperation with theaperture in the rear lug.

Operation of thelatch will be understood from 'a study of Figs. 5+8. The pin 60 is positioned relatively toward the upper edge of the strip 56, and as the lug 86 engages the latch pin upon lowering of the grid toward seated position, the strip 56 is twisted as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, and the pin 60 pivots through elongated slot 64. The pivoting of the. pin 60 allows the end of the pin to pass along the inner face of the lug 86, and the pin snaps into the aperture 88 in the lug as shown in Fig. 7 when the grid is in fully seated position. Ittill be understood that this action occurs at both of the lugs 86 and involves both of the latches 54. The grid cannot be removed either accidentallyor intentionally by an upward force on it, as engagement of the latch pin 60 with the upper edge of the vertically elongated slot '64 prevents. the pin 60 from moving; upwardly to pivot the strip 56in a reverse sense. When it is desired to remove the grid, all that is necessary to push against the push button head 68 of the release pin 66 to retract the latch 60 from the cooperating aperture 88 in the lug 86. The latch pin 60 is shown partially retracted in Fig. 4 as the push button head 68 is pushed against by a finger. The extension 78 of the latch pin 66 fits through the cooperating hole in the strip 56 sutficiently loosely to preclude binding when the strip twists. It will be noted in Fig. 7 that the latch pin 60 fits loosely Within the aperture 88 of the lug, and lies substantially at the bottom thereof.

A modification of the latchis shown in Fig. .9. The parts therein are identical with those previously disclosed except for those mentioned specifically hereinafter. Accordingly, similar numerals have been utilized With the addition of the sutfix a, and further description therefore may be dispensed with. The difference lies in the provision of aclose fit of the latch pin 60a and the aperture 88a in the lug 86a. This. close fit further serves to prevent any upward pivoting of the latch pin 60:: and accompanying twisting of the strip 56a. r

A further modification of the latch is indicated at 54b in Fig. 10. The latch in this modification is generally similar to that previously described, and similar numerals again are used with the addition of the suflix b to preclude the necessity of extended description. The latch pin 66b fits loosely through a corresponding opening in the strip 561), and is provided with a cross pin 90 forming a stop forpressing against the strip. The strip is provided at its free end with a U-shaped or reversely bent tail 92 which lies along the upper edge of the strip and is narrow compared with the strip. The end 94 of the latch release pin 66b projecting through the strip extends beneath the tail 92 and a substantial distance therebeyond. The strip is free to twist to allow pivoting of the pin 60b into latching engagement with the aperture in the associated lug on a cooking plate, but any tendency of the strip to twist in the opposite direction is resisted by engagement of the tail 92 with the projecting end 94 of the latch release pin.

As the invention has been described heretofore, a pair of releasable latches isprovided on the bottom half of the waffle baker for detachably securing a cooking plate, and it willbe understood that the cooking plate in the top half of the waffle baker is similarly secured. In certaincases, itmight be preferable to provideonly one pair of lugs 86 is the lower portion of the releasable latch on each half of the wattle baker, and a fixed retaining means is shown in Figs. 11 and 12 for detachably retaining the opposite half of the grid in the wattle baker. This retaining means is indicated generally at 96. The rear wall or flange 400 (similar numerals with the addition of a sutfix c again being used to identify similar parts) of the reflector 36c is provided with a rectangular aperture 98, and a channel-shaped or U-shaped bracket fits through this aperture with outwardly turned attaching tabs or feet 102 suitably secured to the wall 400 by means such as rivets or welding. A stationary latch pin 104 is mounted in the center of the web or bight of the bracket by means such as a peened over reduced end portion 106 of the pin. The pin projects back toward the wall 480 and is provided with a tapered end to facilitate cooperation with the aperture 380 in the lug 860 depending from the grid 820. It will be apparent that when the latch on the opposite side of the grid is released, the grid can be tilted up to remove the lug 860 part way into the aperture 98 in the wall 40c to detach the lug from the stationary latch pin 1M. It will be understood that the grid may be inserted by substantially reverse manipulation.

It now will be apparent that the latch herein shown and described functions in a novel manner to allow insertion and removal of a waflie baker cooking plate such as a waffle grid. The twisting action of the latch strip as a cooking plate is inserted elects ready cooperation of the latch pin with the cooperating latching means on the grid without imposing any undue reactive force on the grid. Pivoting of the latch pin and twisting of the strip in a reverse sense positively are resisted to prevent accidental release of the grid or other cooking plate, while a simple bending motion of the strip is readily effected to release the cooking plate by simply pushing on the push button head of the latch release pin.

Although the latch herein shown and described has particular use with waflie bakers, it is contemplated that it could have use with other articles. Various modifications in structure are possible, and will be understood forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a wafile baker or the like comprising a housing, heating means within said housing, and a cooking plate removably supported within said housing adjacent said heating means, the combination comprising a latch supported in said housing, and means on said cooking plate detachably engageable by said latch for retaining said cooking plate in said housing. said latch comprising a resilient strip fixed at one end in said housing, the opposite end being substantially free, spin on said strip positioned generally toward said free end and engageable with the cooperating means on the cooking plate for retaining the cooking plate in said housing, said pin being free to pivot in a given direction accompanied by-corresponding twisting of said strip when said pin is engaged by the cooperating means on a cooking plate being installed to effect cooperative engagement of said pin and said cooperating means, means preventing pivoting of said pin and twisting of said strip in a reverse sense, and a push rod extending outside of said housing for bending said strip to effect sub stantially axial withdrawal of said pin from said cooperating means.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 and further including fixed means having an aperture through which said pin projects, said aperture being elongated transversely of said strip and generally in the direction of pivoting of said pin, said pin normally being positioned substantially in engagement with the material at one end of said aperture to prevent reverse pivoting of said pin and twisting of said strip, said pin being pivotal into said aperture in the forward sense.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cooperating means on the cooking plate-comprises a proan aperture snugly receiving said pivoting of said pin and twisting jection thereon having pin to prevent reverse of said strip.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the resilient strip is provided at its free end with a reversely bent tail extending substantially from one edge thereof, and said push rod extends beyond said strip into engagement with said tail to prevent pivoting of said pin and twisting of said strip in a reverse sense.

5. In a device comprising a housing, and an article to be supported in said housing, the combination including a latch member cooperable with means on the article for detachably holding said article in said housing, means mounting said latch member for pivotal movement in the direction of insertion of said article and for generally rectilinear movement, means disposed for preventing opposite pivotal movement of said latch member, said latch member being engaged by said means on said article upon installation of said article and initially pivoted in said direction for permitting assembly of said article, and means for substantially rectilinearly moving said latch member for disengaging the same from the cooperating means on said article.

6. A latch of the type described comprising an elongated resilient member fixedly mounted adjacent one end thereof and including a free portion twistable from a normal position about an axis extending longitudinally thereof and also laterally deflectable from said normal position about an axis extending transversely thereof, a projection on said free resilient member portion and having an axis disposed at angles to said longitudinal and transverse axes, a complementary latch member shiftable in a first direction traversing said projection axis and generally parallel to said transverse axis for latching engagement with said projection, said projection being shifted in said one direction upon being initially engaged by said complementary member moving in said one direction and causing twisting of said resilient member about said longitudinal axis which results in lateral retraction of said projection sutficiently to permit latching engagement of the projection and said complementary member, means disposed for preventing reverse twisting of said resilient member from said normal position, and manually operable means disposed for laterally deflecting said resilient member about said transverse axis for retracting said projection to permit the complementary member to be disconnected [from said projection.

7. A latdh as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for preventing reverse twisting of said resilient member includes fixed means having a hole therein through which said projection extends, said projection normally substantially engaging one edge of said fixed means defining the hole to preclude reverse twisting of said resilient member, said hole being elongated transversely of said resilient member to allow pivoting of said projection as said resilient member is twisted in a forward sense.

8. A latch as set forth in claim 6 wherein the complementary member comprises a projection having an opening therein for snugly receiving the projection on said resilient member to preclude reverse twisting of said resilient member.

9. A latch as set forth in claim 6 wherein the means preventing reverse twisting of the resilient member comprises a reversely bent tail on a free end of said resilient member, and means engaged by said tail to prevent reverse twisting of the strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,132,705 Crompton Mar. 23, 1915 1,564,691 Langdon Dec. 8, 1925 1,754,800 Preston Apr. 15, 1930 2,134,828 Kaplan et a1. Nov. 1, 1938 2,314,872 Dickey Mar. 30, 1943 2,328,757 Tinnernran Sept. 7, 1943 2,361,285 Gough Oct. 24, 1944 2,431,332 Jordan Nov. 25, 1947 2,597,541 Squires May 20, 1952 

